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Carbon fibre has a high stiffness with a low density, allowing it to increase the speed of the racing wheelchair. Carbon fibre wheelchairs are more expensive than many other options, and the fibres must be designed into a matrix to achieve the desired strength and stiffness.
Currently, racing wheelchairs are made of welded aluminium, a lightweight material that cannot flex. Because the seats are often standard-sized, athletes must bolster themselves in with padded blocks and straps.Racing chairs are not the same as regular wheelchairs. They have two large wheels in the back and one smaller wheel in front.
The Global Carbon fiber racing wheelchair market accounted for $XX Billion in 2022 and is anticipated to reach $XX Billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of XX% from 2023 to 2030.
BMW has unveiled a carbon-fiber chair for the Rio Paralympians. BMW has designed carbon-fiber racing wheelchairs that are aerodynamically efficient and can be customised for each athlete.
The wheelchairs, which have been in development for over a year, will be unveiled on Wednesday as part of the 100-day countdown to the Rio Olympics.
They will be made available to qualified athletes in the marathon and track events. “It’s the coolest-looking piece of equipment I’ve ever seen. It’s an incredibly ambitious project, and these guys have done a phenomenal job. They’re all salivating at the prospect of reaping the benefits.”
Because of technology borrowed from cycling, racing chairs have greatly improved over the last 20 years. However, BMW’s Designworks, which was also the brains behind the chairs, thought it could improve them by redesigning the chassis and using carbon fibre.
The majority of chairs are now welded aluminium. Although it is a lightweight material, unlike carbon fibre, it cannot be moulded to fit an athlete’s body. Furthermore, the athletes’ force will cause the chair to bend or flex over time, requiring the racer to expend even more energy.
They’re punching the wheels, and a lot of force is being transferred from the athlete to the turning wheels via the chair. There is some flex in an aluminium chassis, which can sap some of the energy.
